Russia Welcomes Sun Ra - November 19 With The Jazz Drama Program Presentation Of "Message From Saturn"

Saxophonist Knoel Scott told me Sun Ra came into rehearsal and said, 'I just got a message from Saturn. We are not playing enough blues!' I thought about this for ten years, then joined up with Clifford Carlson to write this story." —Eli Yamin

Eli Yamin and friends bring the Blues to Russia for the Euro-Asian premiere of Message From Saturn in Yekaterinburg on November 19!

As the Russian poster reads: Message From Saturn"—a joint Russian-American project in Yekaterinburg!

On November 19 the jazz musical Message From Saturn will premiere at the Ural Cultural Center!

The authors of the musical, Eli Yamin and Clifford Carlson (United States, New York), created this great project with educational purpose- to introduce the younger generation to the traditional jazz music of America presented in the Blues style. Young students from the exemplary theatre collective Commonwealth Farandole, ages 10-17, will be acting, singing and dancing with dialogue in Russian and songs in English.

A jazz orchestra will support them featuring professional musicians of the Yekaterinburg-Jazz band and a string section led by the author himself musical—New York jazz pianist and composer Eli Yamin. Eli's arrival is specially organized by the Consulate General of the United States in Yekaterinburg in collaboration with the New York based non profit organization, The Jazz Drama Program.

Message From Saturn is A Space Odyssey of three young people on a galactic adventure to learn the healing power of The Blues. The musical was created for mission of The Jazz Drama Program.

The Jazz Drama Program is a non-profit organization that builds more imaginative, diverse and compassionate communities through education in jazz music, dance and theatre.

The Jazz Drama Program trains teachers and students in a multi-discipline approach to jazz education, offers inter-generational and cross cultural performances and creates unique musicals written on socially relevant themes especially for young performers.

The Jazz Drama Program engages, inspires, and empowers young people through the jazz arts. Jazz arts for a better world!

The CD of Message From Saturn, recorded at Avatar Studios in New York City was produced for The Jazz Drama Program by Jeff The Jedi Master" Jones and performed by Eli Yamin and the Astro-Intergenerational Arkestra featuring Camille Thurman, Todd Williams, Big Nancy, the PubliQuartet and Zah! Jazz Youth.

According to the Director of the Sun Ra Archive, Michael Dr. Bop" Anderson, If we truly give our children the chance by providing them with the tools they need to work without the infliction of prejudice or indifference, they will intuitively begin to develop and begin making the necessary changes the world needs. Their creative efforts will affect the continual and generational development of humanity, the upkeep of the planet and universe. It is the creative principle for the prosperity of a universal future. The children have always held the keys (answers). I applaud the efforts of The Jazz Drama Program to make these ideas come to life in our time."

In the fifties I enjoyed latin music. Then in the sixties I heard Stanz Getz and Charlie Byrd with Desafinado. That led me on the path to jazz.
Always interested in photography, so in the early '70s I started combining the two

In the fifties I enjoyed latin music. Then in the sixties I heard Stanz Getz and Charlie Byrd with Desafinado. That led me on the path to jazz.
Always interested in photography, so in the early '70s I started combining the two. No financial rewards, but immense satisfaction and, thanks to
linking up with writer Stan Britt, managed to meet (and photograph) some of my heroes: Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Count Basie, Oscar Peterson.
Best gigs? Sinatra with Basie at the RFH, London, and Dexter Gordon at Ronnie Scott's.
Advice to new photographers? Be polite, obtain permission, remain invisible, and always thank when possible the musicians and venue operators.

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